Core for paver and method

ABSTRACT

A core for insertion into a void formed in or by a paver, and a method of making the core. The core includes a soil, a binder holding the core in a shape adapted for being received into the void, and may include phytoremediating plant seeds and/or a soil stabilizer. The binder may be biodegradable or not, and may be a pulp form, and/or an encapsulating shell. The binder may be selected from the group consisting of starch, cellulose, glue, adhesive, and bio-degradable or non-biodegradable plastic, and may be applied to the surface of the soil or mixed with the soil. The core may be compressively formed. A paving surface with seedless cores installed may be hydroseeded.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional, and claims priority benefit, of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/644,458 (filed Jan. 18, 2005) entitled “Interlocking Pre-cast Concrete Paver Utilizing a Biodegradable Mold Which Releases Plant Material and a Method to Produce It,” hereby specifically incorporated by reference in its entirety.

REFERENCE TO COMPACT DISC(S)

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates, in general, to paving stones (“pavers”), such as pre-cast concrete pavers, used to create a paved surface, and in particular, to filling the enlarged voids of such paved surfaces with seeds and soil.

2. Information Disclosure Statement: It is well-known to use pre-cast concrete paving stones (“pavers”) to create an outdoor paved surface on top of a bed of sand and/or gravel. Some such pavers may have surface glazing or surface patterns for decoration. It is also known to use so-called “open-cell” pavers, which have an enlarged open vertical bore that is generally centrally disposed therethrough, and, after a surface has been paved with these open-cell pavers, soil is deposited into the open cells and then compacted using vibrating compactors, but the compaction is often imperfect, and it is difficult if not impossible to compact soil in the open cells below the surface of the pavers. Similarly, pavers are known that, when installed to create an outdoor paved surface, form similar voids between the pavers that are then filled with soil and compacted using vibrating compactors and the like. Open cell pavers thus may be viewed as a concrete doughnuts whose center holes or voids are, in accordance with the teachings of the prior art, back filled with soil and grasses after the pavers are installed. Some pavers, such as the open-cell pavers sold under the trademark TURFSTONE by Besser Company, Alpena, Mich., have open-cell voids and also have voids formed between adjacent pavers.

But the installation of such open-cell pavers and closed-cell pavers that form voids between adjacent pavers, and the installation and compaction of soil within the open cell voids and voids between the pavers, is extremely labor intensive with varying quality of installation. The pavers must be laid upon a base course bed of gravel (stone aggregate), and the voids are then back filled with soil, and then seeded. It is difficult if not impossible to compact the soil within the voids below the surface of the pavers so that, as a practical matter, the soil in the voids and plants growing in the soil must bear the load of people and vehicles passing over the surface of the pavers, thereby causing root trauma to the plants and making the first year survivability of the plants low. The high lime content of concrete pavers is known to suck the moisture out of soil within the voids of open-cell pavers.

Some examples of commercially available permeable pavers and pervious concrete are the interlocking permeable concrete pavers sold under the trademark UNI ECO-STONE by Uni-Group U.S.A., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., as disclosed on the internet at http://www.uni-groupusa.org; the pervious concrete pavers disclosed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn, Ala., on the internet at http://www.aces.edu/dept/extcomm/newspaper/jan22a04.html; and the grassed concrete and plastic cellular paving systems sold under the trademark GRASSCRETE by Grass Concrete Ltd., Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, as disclosed on the internet at http://www.grasscrete.com.

Furthermore, paved surfaces such as parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, and roads, create an impervious surface acting as an unbroken barrier between precipitation and the earth below. Water draining from these surfaces gains speed and quickly rolls off all exposed ground, such that even minor rains become small-scale floods eroding the exposed soil and quickly filling municipal storm systems. This runoff water typically is contaminated with petroleum, oils, and industrial soot, and contaminates the ground as it passes through prior art porous concrete and pervious pavers. Oil and water seek the path of least resistance, and seep through the cracks in pavement or joints between pavers. With permeable pavers, a higher level of contaminants is expected to accumulate in the permeable areas of the pavers as compared to traditional impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, asphalt surfaces, and driveways, and the contaminant accumulation in permeable areas of pavers is expected to be similar to contaminant levels found in cracks within impervious surfaces, which expose the land and soils beneath the paved surface to contamination. If properly installed, prior art pavers are very effective in allowing storm water to filter through the porous paver material and through plant material growing in the soil within the voids formed by the pavers, and they reduce storm water runoff by allowing the water to trickle through the soil in the voids until such time that the soil becomes saturated, thereby causing the runoff reduction to be less effective. But proper installation is costly and time-consuming.

Therefore, there is a need for a permeable paver that mitigates the contamination of the soil underneath the paver while also reducing the flow of surface runoff water into storm drains. There is a further need for such a permeable paver whose installation is less labor-intensive than heretofore known, while also producing greater uniformity and quality of installation.

The prior art discloses various interlocking open-cell pavers and methods of installing prior art pavers, including open-cell pavers that may be used with the pre-formed core and the new method of the present invention. For example, the September 2004 Review Draft of the ISWM Design Manual for Development/Redevelopment, at Section 3.2.23 (“Modular Porous Paver Systems”), pages 3.2-157 through 3.2-162, describes prior art pavers and their installation.

Jordan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,692 (issued Apr. 12, 1977), discloses various interlocking pavers with various geometric configurations that can be tiled to create a paved surface.

Barth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,357 (issued Dec. 5, 1978), also discloses various interlocking pavers that can be tiled to create a paved surface.

Barth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,130 (issued Sep. 18, 1979), discloses an apparatus for placing pavers on the ground to create a paved surface.

Barth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,939 (issued Jan. 29, 1980), discloses using pavers of at least two differing kinds to create a paved surface.

Barth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,853 (issued Mar. 25, 1980), discloses an apparatus and method for arranging paving stones on the ground.

Barth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,341 (issued Apr. 22, 1986), discloses modular interlocking pavers that can be tiled to create a paved surface.

Barth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,142 (issued Aug. 30, 1994), discloses pavers that are arranged on the ground to form recesses therebetween for water discharge, in which the recesses can be filled with a suitable filling material.

Barth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,285 (issued Nov. 1, 1994), discloses pavers that are arranged on the ground with wide gaps therebetween that are filled with permeable soil material.

Dawson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,262 (issued Dec. 31, 1996) discloses pavers each having a groove on their bottom surface so that, when pavers are aligned end-to-end, a continuous conduit is created.

Von Langsdorff et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,173 (issued Feb. 3, 1998), discloses interlocking pavers with a surface pattern that can be arranged on the ground to create a paved surface.

Dawson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,631 (issued Jun. 30, 1998), discloses pavers having grooves on the undersurface defining a conduit, and having a lip on one or both sides that functions as a mowing strip.

Goodson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,243 (issued Jul. 7, 1998), discloses permeable cellular concrete usable as a drainage structure.

Medico, Jr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,657 (issued Oct. 26, 1999), discloses a paving machine that forms a pavement layer of porous pavement material having a number of aqueduct channels formed underneath the pavement surface.

While the pavers of some or all of these references might be used in combination with the present invention, none of these references, either singly or in combination, disclose or suggest the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a pre-formed core for insertion into the void in an open-cell paver or into the void formed as pavers are tiled on a surface, and a method of forming such a core prior to insertion into the paver, thereby permitting the paver and core to be installed as a unit and/or permitting pre-formed cores to be installed into already-installed pavers. The core of the present invention may include seeds of biomitigating and bioremediating (“phytoremediating”) plants that draw contaminants from the runoff water and soil through the roots and into the leaf structure of the plants, thereby rendering the contaminants non-mobile and easily harvested when the foliage of the plants is trimmed, and the core further preferably includes a soil stabilizer. Alternate embodiments of the invention are described whereby the core is seedless and the paving surface with installed seedless cores is then seeded using the well-known hydroseeding process. Preferably a binder, whether encapsulating or a surface agent, or mixed with the soil, or provided as a framework or form, holds the core in a shape adapted for being received within the void. The core may also be formed by compression and/or heating, and may have removable caps sealing the top and bottom of the core until installation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a permeable paver with a core that mitigates the contamination of the ground underneath the paver while also reducing the flow of surface runoff water into storm drains. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a permeable paver with a core whose installation is less labor-intensive than heretofore known, while also producing greater uniformity and quality of installation. A further object of the invention is to provide phytoremediation to immobilize contaminants in runoff groundwater and to prevent these contaminants from entering the soil and storm sewers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first type of prior art open-cell pavers tiled on a ground surface, and the core of the present invention could be used with these pavers.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of several prior art closed-cell pavers with voids formed between adjacent pavers, and the core of the present invention could be used with these pavers.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an open-cell paver with a first embodiment of the core of the present invention in which the binder is a pulp form.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the paver and core shown in FIG. 3, now shown assembled on the ground.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another open-cell paver with a second embodiment of the core of the present invention in which the binder is a pulp form.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the core shown in FIG. 5, taken along the line 6-6 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a variation of the core of FIG. 6 in which there are seeds at the top and the bottom of the core so that the core has no top or bottom orientation that must be observed when assembling in a void formed by a paver.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a first variation of the first embodiment of the core shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a second variation of the first embodiment of the core shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of a third embodiment of the core of the present invention in which a binder is applied to the surface of the soil.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the core of the present invention in which a binder is mixed with the soil.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the core of the present invention in which the binder is an impervious shell holding the soil, and also showing removable top and bottom covers for the core.

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the core of the present invention being compressively formed as the core is compressed from a larger volume, shown in dotted outline, to a smaller volume, shown in solid outline.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing figures, a number of embodiments of the core of the present invention are shown. There are many similarities between all embodiments, and only the differences will be discussed in detail, it being understood, unless stated to the contrary, that similar structure performs similar function in all embodiments. The various embodiments of the core will utilize a succession of prefix numerals (e.g., “1.”, “2.”, “3.”) denoting the specific embodiment followed by a suffix (e.g., 20) that will denote structure common to embodiments. Likewise, the cores of the present invention can be used with a wide variety of prior art paving stones such as well-known pre-cast concrete paving stones (“pavers”). Various exemplary pavers are shown such as pavers 100, 200, and 300 that are placed adjacent one another in a tiled pattern upon the ground. Pavers 100 and 300 are so-called “open-cell” pavers having a top-to-bottom voids 100.22, 300.22 formed therein for holding soil, whereas “closed-cell” pavers 200 have no such void through the paver but instead, by their shape, such as for example by the octagonal shape shown for pavers 200, form voids 200.22 therebetween as the pavers 200 are tiled together upon the ground. It shall be understood that the present invention is applicable to both open-cell and closed-cell pavers of all shapes and with paver voids of all shapes, but the shape of the core of the present invention must be adapted to match the shape of the particular paver void to be filled. Paver 300 with its clover-shaped open-cell void 300.22 is shown to note that, for such pavers, the shape of the core must be adapted for receipt into the oddly-shaped void 300.22 formed in the paving surface. The pavers are preferably interlocking in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art so that a group of pavers forms a paved surface that behaves as a uniform slab rather than as individual paving stones, and may be formed of concrete or other non-organic material such as brick, glass. etc. Other names by which such pavers are known are permeable pavers, permeable landscaping, or porous landscape/landscaping blocks.

Simply for exemplary purposes, paver 100 is shown having a top surface layer 100.24, but it is not required that pavers used with the present invention have such surface layers, which may be decorative or which may be functional in nature. Pavers are well-known to be preferably installed on a base course bed 26 of gravel (stone aggregated) placed on the ground surface, which has been prepared as by leveling and compacting.

As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, the cores of the present invention preferably have a binder, generally denoted as reference numeral suffix 28, holding the core in a shape adapted for being received within a void, generally denoted as reference numeral suffix 22, in the paving surface. Because the core of the present invention is equally applicable to filling the voids of open-cell pavers (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 and 5) and the voids formed between adjacent pavers (see, e.g., FIG. 2), the specifics of the void will not be further described in detail, it being understood that the core will be provided with appropriate shape for a given void, as needed.

As hereinafter described in greater detail, all cores of the present invention include a soil 30. As used in this application in the context of the present invention, the term “soil” shall be understood to broadly and generally refer to porous media, and encompasses biological material such as, for example, compost, earth, dirt, and/or organic matter, or non-biological material such as, for example, clay, ash, fused and/or non-fused sand, gravel, cellular solids such as cellular glass (e.g., foamed glass such as that sold by the Pittsburg Corning Company as an industrial insulation under the trademark FOAMGLAS), and/or pervious concrete, or a mixture of biological and non-biological material. Soil 30 may include nutrients, inoculants, and biota for creating a more favorable environment for seeds 32, hereinafter described.

The cores of the present invention further include a plurality of seeds 32, preferably seeds of phytoremediating plants. Phytoremediating plants perform bioremediation as they transport contaminants through their root systems to their leaf structure, thereby immobilizing the contaminants for harvest and disposal as the leaf foliage of the plants is trimmed. The phytoremediation process is a natural defense mechanism of the plants to ward off insects, birds, and predators due to the contaminants transported into the leaf structure. Examples of phytoremediating plants are common grasses and weeds, e.g., crabgrass, that are resilient in harsh environments and are able to grow in diverse regions. In order to remove the immobilized contaminants from the environment, it is necessary to occasionally harvest the leaf structure of the phytoremediating plants by trimming and dispose of the harvested contaminated material, and the plants remain to re-grow and again capture contaminants that might otherwise pollute the ground and/or stormwater systems.

As explained in further detail hereinafter, the core of the present invention may also include a soil stabilizer 34, such as a well-known soil stabilizer selected from the group consisting of flyash, sand, glass fines, and pozzolana.

Turning to the specific embodiments of the core of the present invention, the first embodiment core 1.20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a biodegradable binder i.28 that is a pulp form, preferably a recycled paper pulp form made using well-known technology such as is used to make egg cartons and the like. A screen having the shape of the pulp form binder 1.28 is pulled through a vat of paper pulp so that the pulp accumulates on the screen in a manner understood by those skilled in the art, and the pulp form binder 1.28 is then allowed to dry and become rigid, and thus becomes a container or holder for the soil 30 of the core.

The pulp form binder 1.28 may have an outwardly-extending and generally planar flange 1.36 supporting the undersurface 100.38 of the paver 100. Soil stabilizers 34 are provided on the upper surface of flange 1.36, preferably as by applying soil stabilizer 34 to flange 1.36 while it is drying so that the soil stabilizer 34 becomes affixed to the surface of flange 1.36.

Likewise, seeds 32 of phytoremediating plants are provided on the upper surface 1.40 of binder form 1.28, preferably as by applying seeds 32 to surface 1.40 as the form binder is drying, thereby causing the seeds 32 to become affixed to the surface 1.40. A biodegradable lower cap 1.42 is preferably provided to retain soil 30 within the inner cavity 1.44 of core 1.20 created by binder form 1.28, with lower cap 1.42 preferably being made of the same biodegradable paper pulp as binder form 1.28. If core 1.20 is assembled to paver 100 while binder form 1.28 is still drying, or if the undersurface of paver 100 is wetted when the core is assembled to the paver, binder form 1.28 will tend to adhere to paver 100, especially if pozzolanic soil stabilizers are present on the upper surface of flange 1.36 because such soil stabilizers will absorb water and bind to the undersurface of a concrete paver. Alternatively, a binder adhesive such as starch, cellulose, glue, etc., may be applied at the interface between flange 1.36 and paver under surface 100.38 so as to bind the core to the paver for subsequent installation on a ground surface.

It should especially be noted that the height of core 1.20, as with all cores of the present invention, is preferably lower than the height of paver void 100.22 such that seeds 32, upper surface 1.40, and soil 30 are all recessed below the top surface 100.42 of paver 100, thereby preventing seeds 32 and soil 30 from being compacted by pedestrians and vehicles passing over the paver 100. This recessing of the seeds and soil is a significant improvement over the prior art installation methods for pavers that employ soil backfill because it decreases the mortality of the seeds 32.

FIG. 8 shows a variation 2.20 of core 1.20. Because of the many similarities between core 2.20 and core 1.20, only the differences will be explained in detail, with the understanding that other structural features are substantially similar. There are two groups of substantial differences between core 2.20 and core 1.20, and it shall be understood that both of these groups of differences are independent of each other and either or both of the groups of differences could be used as variations of the invention with any of the pavers and embodiments. The first group of differences is that the seeds 32 and/or soil stabilizer 34, rather than being affixed to the surface of the binder form 2.28, are mixed with the pulp mixture so that they become embedded within the biodegradable binder form 2.28 and its lower cap 2.42 as the binder form dries. The second group of differences is that the flange 2.36 does not extend the full distance of the paver undersurface 100.38, and that the lower cap 2.42 overlaps flange 2.36 and extends the full distance of paver undersurface 100.38. Of course, it shall be understood that the core need not extend the full distance of the paver undersurface 100.38, and many of the embodiments of the core do not cover the undersurface of the paver at all, as hereinafter disclosed.

FIG. 9 shows another variation 3.20 of core 1.20 in that lower cap 3.42 partially overlaps the undersurface of flange 3.36. Variation 3.20 of core 1.20 is shown with the seeds 32 and the soil stabilizer 34 being applied to the surface of binder form 3.28, but it should be understood that either or both of seeds 32 and soil stabilizer 34 could be embedded within binder form 3.28 as heretofore shown in variation 2.20 of the core. Lower caps 2.42 and 3.42 may respectively be bound to flanges 2.36 and 3.36 during the pulp drying process or as by applying a binder adhesive such as starch, cellulose, glue, etc., at the interface between flanges 2.36, 3.36 and their respective lower caps 2.42, 3.42 so as to bind lower caps to their respective flanges.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment 4.20 of the core of the present invention. There are many similarities between core 4.20 and core 1.20, and only the substantial differences will be described in detail, it being understood that similar structural features perform similar functions. Core 4.20 is provided to show that various embodiments of the core of the present invention may be shaped as necessary for being received into a particular void shape of a paving surface, and is further provided to show that the core may omit the flange (e.g., flange 1.36 of core 1.20). While a core flange is desirable and, by being adhered to the undersurface of the paver, serves to retain the core within the paver prior to installation of the paver on the ground, it shall be understood that the core flange is not essential to the practice of the present invention. As with the core 1.20, core 4.20 includes soil 30, seeds 32 atop the binder form 4.28, and a lower cap 4.42, and, if desired, soil stabilizer (not shown) could be provided on the lower cap 4.42. It shall be understood that the seeds 32 and/or a soil stabilizer could be embedded within binder form 4.28 and/or cap 4.42. It should be further understood that, in all embodiments, prior to filling the core cavity 4.42 with soil 30, seeds 32 could be placed within the core cavity 4.44 created by the binder form so that seeds 32 would be atop soil 30 inside the binder form.

FIG. 7 shows a variation 5.20 of embodiment 4.20 in which seeds 30 are provided on the upper surface of core 5.20 and on the undersurface of binder form cap 5.42. The advantage of embodiment 5.20 is that it may be installed right side up or upside down within paver 300 or used within a paver that has no preferred top surface, thereby permitting the paver and/or core to be installed on the ground without concern for the orientation of the paver or core. Of course, the lower seeds will have great mortality while the upper seeds survive as a tradeoff of orientation independence during installation.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment 6.20 of the core of the present invention in which, rather than having a pulp form binder, a binder coating 6.28 selected from the group consisting of starch, cellulose, glue, adhesive, and bio-degradable plastic, is applied to the outer surface of the soil 30 as, for example, by dipping, spraying, rolling, brushing, etc., so as to hold the core in the desired shape when the binder coating 6.28 dries. Seeds 32 are preferably applied to the upper surface of the core as the binder coating 6.28 dries and may also be applied to the lower surface of the core as with embodiment 5.20 described above.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment 7.20 of the core of the present invention that is similar to embodiment 6.20 except that a binder 7.28 selected from selected from the group consisting of starch, cellulose, glue, adhesive, bio-degradable plastic, and non-biodegradable plastic and is mixed with the soil 30 during creation of the core so that, as the binder hardens, the core solidifies and is held into its desired shape. As with all embodiments, core 7.20 may include seeds 32 as heretofore described. The binder agents of embodiments 6.20 and 7.20 protect the core until installation and/or activation of the growth media, and may be dissolved, as appropriate for the chosen binder agent, with water or water mixed with additives/solvents such as citric acid, etc. By choosing appropriate well-known binder agents that decompose by, as appropriate, biological activity, sunlight, or chemical agents, the core can be protected and retain its shape for a substantial time until activated/decomposed as desired. It should be understood that embodiment 7.20 in which the binder 7.28 is mixed with the soil during core creation encompasses not only a homogenous soil-binder core that solidifies as a unitary mass, but also a core formed from a biodegradable or non-biodegradable plastic binder that is honeycombed or cellular or sponge-porous or three-dimensional netting in structure, in which soil is forced or slurried to create the mixed soil-binder core of embodiment 7.20.

As a variation on embodiment 6.20 of FIG. 10, FIG. 11 shows an embodiment 8.20 in which a circumferential binder shell 8.28 of biodegradable plastic or non-biodegradable plastic encapsulates the soil 30, and seeds 32 and soil stabilizer 34 are also respectively provided above and below the soil 30. It is thus seen that circumferential binder shell 8.28 is applied to the outer surface of the soil 30 as the soil is placed within the binder shell. Removable upper and lower caps 8.46, 8.44 are provided that seal the soil 30, soil stabilizer 34, and seeds 30 within binder shell 8.28 until installation or at the time of activation of the growth media, such that the core is protected prior to installation and the seeds are inhibited from premature germination.

FIG. 13 shows a binderless embodiment 9.20 of the core that is formed according to a method of the present invention, such that the core is temporarily held in its intended form and shape due to the pressure and/or heat of compressive forming, much as charcoal briquettes are formed, using so-called “rammed-earth construction” technology as is known for use in making adobe bricks. In accordance with this method of the present invention, a paving surface, whether an assembly of tiled pavers or a single open-cell paver, is provided having a void, whether the void of an open-cell paver or the void between adjacent tiled pavers as heretofore described. Also a core is provided including soil, and the core is compressed from an enlarged size 9.20′, shown as in dotted outline in FIG. 13, to a compressed core size and shape 9.20 adapted for receipt into the void, and then the core 9.20 is inserted into the void. As with other embodiments of the present invention, seeds 32 (not shown) may be added to the core prior to compression so as to present seeds proximate an upper surface of the compressed core 9.20. The advantage of this method of forming a compressed core is that the core may expand to fit voids, and especially odd-shaped voids, when the core is exposed to a wetting solution, thereby also activating the seeds for germination. Another advantage of forming a seedless core is that the seedless cores can be installed in the voids of a paving surface, whether in open-cell voids or in the voids between pavers as heretofore described, and then the soil-impregnated paving surface may be “hydroseeded,” a well-known process for dispersing seeds over an area whereby seeds are mixed in suspension with water and preferably nutrients such as fertilizer in a tank, and then the seed-suspended slurry mixture is pumped from the tank and sprayed onto a ground area as desired.

It should be understood that any of the embodiments 1.20, 2.20, 3.20, 4.20, 5.20, 6.20, 7.20, and/or 8.20 may be created “seedless” simply by omitting the seeds in accordance with a variation of the present invention, and, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention heretofore described, the seedless cores may then be installed in voids of paving surface and the resulting soil-impregnated paving surface may be hydroseeded. This use of seedless cores has the advantage over the prior art of ensuring uniform high-quality installation of the soil within the paving surface with low labor costs and also with the uniformly-recessed top surface of the soil, thereby reducing seed mortality as heretofore described.

To use any of the cores of the present invention, the core is first created apart from the paver void. Cores may be packaged for protection and shipped/sold without a paver or in a packaged combination with pavers for use by “do-it-yourself” installers, or the cores may be installed in pavers by a paver manufacturer or distributor for sale and/or installation as a prepackaged unit. A bed surface, preferably of gravel, is prepared as with prior art pavers, and the paver with installed core is-then tiled on the ground as a unit to create a paved surface, or, with pavers such as paver 200, the pre-formed cores may be inserted into pavers already tiled on the ground.

After installation, the binder biodegrades or is dissolved using water or water mixed with appropriate additives/solvents such as citric acid, etc., delivering soil stabilizers, nutrients, inoculants, and biota, and exposing the small area of rich soil in the paver void to sunlight and nourishment so that the seeds may germinate and grow into biomitigating and bioremediating plants.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred use therefor, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention. 

1: A core for insertion into a void in a paving surface, said core comprising: (a) a soil; and (b) a binder holding said core in a shape adapted for being received within said void. 2: The core as recited in claim 1, in which said core further includes seeds. 3: The core as recited in claim 2, in which said binder is biodegradable. 4: The core as recited in claim 3, in which said seeds are of phytoremediating plants. 5: The core as recited in claim 4, in which said core further includes a soil stabilizer. 6: The core as recited in claim 5, in which said soil stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of flyash, sand, glass fines, and pozzolana. 7: The core as recited in claim 2, in which said seeds are of phytoremediating plants. 8: The core as recited in claim 7, in which said core further includes a soil stabilizer. 9: The core as recited in claim 8, in which said soil stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of flyash, sand, glass fines, and pozzolana. 10: The core as recited in claim 2, in which said binder is a pulp form at least partially surrounding said soil. 11: The core as recited in claim 10, in which said seeds are of phytoremediating plants. 12: The core as recited in claim 11, in which said core further includes a soil stabilizer. 13: The core as recited in claim 12, in which said soil stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of flyash, sand, glass fines, and pozzolana. 14: The core as recited in claim 13, in which said soil stabilizer is upon at least a portion of a surface of said form. 15: The core as recited in claim 13, in which said soil stabilizer is embedded within said pulp form. 16: The core as recited in claim 2, in which said binder is mixed with said soil. 17: The core as recited in claim 16, in which said binder is selected from the group consisting of starch, cellulose, glue, adhesive, bio-degradable plastic, and non-biodegradable plastic. 18: The core as recited in claim 17, in which said seeds are of phytoremediating plants. 19: The core as recited in claim 18, in which said core further includes a soil stabilizer. 20: The core as recited in claim 19, in which said soil stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of flyash, sand, glass fines, and pozzolana. 21: The core as recited in claim 20, in which said soil stabilizer is upon at least a portion of a surface of said form. 22: The core as recited in claim 20, in which said soil stabilizer is embedded within said pulp form. 23: The core as recited in claim 2, in which said binder is applied to said soil's surface. 24: The core as recited in claim 23, in which said binder is selected from the group consisting of starch, cellulose, glue, adhesive, bio-degradable plastic, and non-biodegradable plastic. 25: The core as recited in claim 24, in which said seeds are of phytoremediating plants. 26: The core as recited in claim 25, in which said core further includes a soil stabilizer. 27: The core as recited in claim 26, in which said soil stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of flyash, sand, glass fines, and pozzolana. 28: The core as recited in claim 27, in which said soil stabilizer is upon at least a portion of a surface of said form. 29: The core as recited in claim 27, in which said soil stabilizer is embedded within said pulp form. 30: A method of forming a soil core and then inserting same into a paving surface, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a paving surface having a void; (b) providing a core including soil; then i. compressing said core into a shape adapted for receipt into said void; and then ii. inserting said compressed core into said void. 31: The method as recited in claim 30, in which said compressed core includes seeds of phytoremediating plants. 